Term Law Clerk

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has an opening for a judicial law clerk (term) in the chambers of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella, with a start date of Feb. 11, 2026. This term is expected to last two years, starting on Feb. 11, 2026, and ending on April 7, 2028.

The term law clerk supports the Judge in managing a busy civil docket and juggles both administrative and substantive legal responsibilities. The term law clerk also researches legal issues, drafts judicial orders and recommendations, prepares pre‑hearing bench memoranda that identify issues for the Judge and questions for the parties, and otherwise assists the Judge in preparing for and conducting discovery conferences, hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and trials in consent cases.

The term law clerk also works closely with interns, supervising their work and providing mentorship. The term law clerk also must maintain a courteous and professional demeanor within chambers, the Court, the bar, and with the public at large.

• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree;
• Proficiency in legal studies that, in the opinion of the appointing judge, is the equivalent of one of the above.

• At least two years of active federal litigation experience after graduation from law school;
• At least one year of experience as a judicial law clerk for a federal district or magistrate judge;
• At least one year of experience as a judicial law clerk for a state court judge with a high‑volume docket (district or appellate);
• Graduation in the top third of the law school class;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law journal of such a school.

Applicants must apply online through OSCAR. Through OSCAR, each applicant should submit:

• Application form AO78 (Download it here). Save and upload application as “Resume” through OSCAR. All applicants for this position must also complete the “Optional Background Information” section of the AO78 (page
  5) for consideration
• Two substantial writing samples that are substantially your own work, with at most minimal edits by others and certification that the samples were written without the assistance of an AI tool
• Law school and undergraduate transcripts
• Contact information for three professional references

Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please do not send any application materials to us through any other means, including in hard copy or via email. Contact our HR Division at  with questions.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.